Sep 28 - propane inspection

I guess that would be the event of the day.  A relatively new law requires inspection of propane installations every 10 years or suppliers like Superior Propane (ours) have to cease delivery.  Of course we have to pay for the inspection, $149, but that's par for the course.

Bruce called about 9:30 to say that he was on his way from Huntsville; asked directions and timing.  I told him that it would be 1.5 hours or so and that he'd likely be here between 11 & 12.  2 hours is actually more likely, but he got here at 1:30.  It seems that his Nav took him back via Magnetawan and then over to highway 11 ... duh.

So the process is to check each appliance, record model and serial numbers etc. and see if there's anything about the installation that's contrary to rules.  The only appliance tested, per se, was the furnace.  We ran the furnace and he checked for carbon monoxide at a heat register, which would have indicated a cracked heat exchanger.

We started with the generator and already we had a problem.  It's too close to the regulator so a breather pipe has to be attached to the regulator to get its intake 10 feet (I guess that we're not metric yet) from any source of ignition.  I remember the installer saying that they'd have to do this but he never did.  Rats.

Next, finishing up outside, he went to the barbecues, looking at ratings plates for serial numbers etc.  Oh oh, as he wrote down the information from the newest unit, I read the older one that we'd bought in Radnor PA, moved to Florida then moved here.   At first I couldn't find the Canadian approval (like CSA), but eventually I did.  I was reading that tag while he wrote info down ... luckily because it says "loud and clear" that it's setup for Natural Gas !  Had I known the process, I'd have simply moved that barbecue to the shed. 

Next, inside, he wrote down information for the Takagi on-demand hot water heater.  My heart was in my mouth, as the expression goes, hoping that he'd find a CSA ... because that would be very expensive to replace !  That's something else that I brought up from the US ... and he did.  Whew !

Over by the furnace we found the pressure test tag, which was put there by Northern Mechanical who did the gas plumbing.  He wrote down info for the furnace and then we moved upstairs to the stove and we were finished except for the CO test, which of course we passed.

Since the issue with the generator was the only issue and since I knew exactly what to do to bring it into compliance, he gave us a "pass" on my promise that I'd address the issue.  I have to go to Home Depot and pick up some iron pipe cut to length to extend the breather.  A nipple, two elbows and the pipe will do the trick.  That will be 4' towards the back of the house and then 2' across the back.  I'll paint the pipe to match the colour of the siding, so it's not unsightly.  PVC isn't legal but I'm wondering if I could use 3/4" metal conduit ... hmmm ... probably not as it doesn't seal.

That finished and lunch over with, I went into Loring for mail and to pick up something at Home Hardware.  I haven't been into HH for months and it figures; they were closed for inventory.

Another day was done.

Jason and Lorraine left around 11:30, so it's quiet here again.

We had salmon for dinner with broccoli.  Sandy had some rice; I had a grilled portobello.

Next up, a trip to Burlington to bring some stuff to Joyce, hopefully dinner with Jim and Bonnie in Magnetawan on that trip; my 200k ride on Saturday; a puppy visitation with Lauren on Sunday.  Stef may come along too, she wasn't sure.

Oh yes, I need new tires for the X5.  I was planning on getting them in Florida as they do have a little more life, and I've always purchased my tires in the US because it's cheaper.  I decided to call Arnstein Garage to see what they might cost in Canada, as the Canadian dollar is so low and I wasn't sure if prices had caught up.  These are expensive tires, run flat 255/55/R18.  She called me back and bingo, about $100 cheaper including installation and HST -- "out the door" as she put it.  This conversation took place about 1:30 and she had until 2:00 to order them to get them in for Friday.  I now have an appointment for next week to get them installed.  Wonderful !  Had we missed the 2pm deadline, the tires wouldn't have been delivered until the Friday afterwards and I suppose that I could have had them installed after Thanksgiving weekend before we headed to Reading, but this is better.

Onward !